Nava Rasa - Part 15

Date: 2020-04-19 Author: Vaijayantimala dasi

Hare Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

This is in continuation of the previous offerings, referring to a beautiful verse from Sri Karnamrtam wherein Lord Shri Ramachandra is described as an embodiment of the nine prominent rasas or mellows. Herein we see the rasa of Bhibatsam or disgust. bhībhatsaṃ anyāmukhe - of disgust on seeing Shurpanakha and her behaviour

The Supreme Lord does not become disgusted with anyone or anything in the actual sense of the term. Since He is the source of everything, He being the Supreme father does not become disgusted with His creations. To understand this, there is a beautiful verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.39

na cāsya kaścid dayito / na dveṣyo na ca bāndhavaḥ āviśaty apramatto ’sau pramattaṁ janam anta-kṛt

No one is dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor is anyone His enemy or friend. But He gives inspiration to those who have not forgotten Him and destroys those who have.

Srila Prabhupada writes in the Purport “He helps everyone; one who is not bewildered by the influence of material energy is saved, and one who is bewildered is destroyed.”

In the pastime with Shurpanakha, we see that she becomes very envious of mata whom she feels is the impediment for her being prevented from marrying Rama, and she rushes with great anger to eat Sita. At that time Lord Rama expresses His disgust with Shurpanakha in the following words to Lakshmana (SR 3.18.19-20).

krūrairanāryai ssaumitrē parihāsaḥ kathañcana na kāryaḥ paśyavaidēhīm kathañcitsaumya jīvatīm

O handsome Lakshmana! it is not proper to cut jokes with wicked, uncivilized persons. Now see Sita who has somehow survived.

imām virūpāmasatīmatimattām mahōdarīm rākṣasīm puruṣavyāghra virūpayitumarhasi

O tiger among men, this uncouth, big-bellied, unchaste and highly passionate demoness deserves to be deformed.

We also understand that killing a woman was very disgusting to the Lord. He was very much hesitant to kill Tataka, the first demoness He encountered. At that time, understanding the feelings of Rama, sage Viswamitra speaks as follows (SR 1.25.16):

na hi tē strīvadhakṛtē ghṛṇā kāryā narōttama cāturvarṇyahitārthāya kartavyaṅ rājasūnunā O best among men! you need not hate killing a woman. You are a prince. You should serve the interest of the four orders of the society.

Sage Viswamitra tells Lord Rama that for the protection of cows and brahmins, this demoness needs to be slayed, and Lord Rama fulfilled the orders of the sage.

Rama willing, we shall see the other rasas in the ensuing offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Vaijayanti mala devi dasi Chennai.